The play of quarterback Grayson James has been key to FIU’s performances this season
There may not be 50 shades of Grayson James, but there are at least two.
When the FIU Panthers (3-4, 1-2) win, James completes, on average, 65.5 percent of his passes for 229.3 yards per game. FIU’s quarterback also has eight touchdown passes and just one interception in those three wins.
When FIU loses, James completes 60.1 percent of his passes for 177.8 yards. More telling, he has zero touchdown passes and five interceptions in those four games.
FIU coach Mike MacIntyre raved about James’ performance in last week’s 34-15 win at Charlotte. In that game, James completed 26-of-34 passes for 306 yards, and he ran 10 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
“Grayson was phenomenal,” MacIntyre said. “He was patient in the pocket. He trusted the (offensive) line, had great poise.
“He also ran the ball well. He’s a big man (6-1, 235). Then we had some play-action throws.
“This is the Grayson I always expected. He will keep improving. There’s no doubt he’s got things to improve on, but he made a big jump (on Saturday).”
James’ next chance at improving will come on Friday when FIU plays host to Conference USA rival Louisiana Tech (2-5, 1-2).
The Bulldogs are coming off a 42-41 overtime loss to visiting Rice. Louisiana Tech, which lost their top two quarterbacks (Texas Tech transfer Matthew Downing and Texas Christian transfer Parker McNeil) to injury against Rice, blew an 18-point lead.
True freshman Landry Lyddy – just 18 years old -- finished at quarterback, completing 3-of-6 passes for 38 yards, two TDs and no picks. Lyddy, a 6-0, 190-pounder from Shreveport, was Louisiana’s Gatorade Player of the Year last season.
Downing is out for the year, but McNeil could be ready by Friday.
Either way, Louisiana Tech’s biggest struggle has been on defense, where the Bulldogs rank 10th out of 11 teams in the league in points allowed (39.3).
In other words, this should be a big opportunity for the brighter shade of Grayson James.
THIS AND THAT
▪ FIU has never beaten Louisiana Tech, losing all four times. The series started in 2013. The last time the teams met was a 43-31 Bulldogs victory in 2019.
▪ With five sacks in six games, FIU outside linebacker Shaun Peterson Jr. – who played running back his first four collegiate seasons – is moving up the charts. He is now second in the league with .83 sacks per game.
▪ Panthers inside linebackers Gaethan Bernadel (8.7) and Donovan Manuel (8.1) rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in C-USA tackles per game.
▪ FIU’s Daton Montiel ranks 28th nationally in punting average (43.7).
▪ The Panthers will be watching for Bulldogs wide receiver Tre Harris, a 6-2, 205-pounder who ranks fifth in the league with 85.3 reception yards per game. His seven TD catches are one short of the C-USA lead.
▪ Bulldogs speedy tight end Griffin Hebert, a 6-3, 230-pounder, ranks 14th in the league in yards per game (67.2). Among the league’s top 15 in reception yards, Hebert’s 20.2 average per catch ranks second.
MacIntyre called Hebert “a hybrid” with 4.5 speed.
▪ Wide receiver Smoke Harris – no relation to Tre – is another Bulldogs threat. Although small at 5-foot-7, he is tied for 15th in the league with 36 catches.
“We better know where Harris is – Smoke and Tre,” MacIntyre said.
▪ Bulldogs running back Marquis Crosby ranks sixth in the league with 65.1 rushing yards per game (5.6 per carry).
▪ FIU running back Lexington Joseph, averaging 5.5 yards, is 11th in the league in rushing yards per game (51.9).